A Rather Sad Time

Good Morning Everyone, Im afraid I will be not posting any cards for a few days as my mother in law passed away early yesterday morning, and I dont think its appropriate at this time, I will be back hopefully at the weekend, but I just want a few days to myself to come to terms with whats happened.
My mother in law Kath was almost 92 and had spent the last 5 years in a home, and for the last two in a local one which was so handy for my hubby Ian to visit her several times a week. She unfortunately suffered badly from dementia and found life a little distressing as she couldnt really understand what was going on around her and became rather aggresive at times, so to be absolutely honest I think both my hubby and I have come to the conclusion that its a very happy release for her, but it doesnt stop us missing her and the person she was ten years ago, a loving and generous person who was lost to her dementia.
So now like me, my hubby and I are both orphans and its this that we find the most difficult to come to terms with as Im sure others in the same position will know what Im talking about, knowing we havent got a parent to turn to, to ask for their opinions and advice and I suspect they felt the same when their own parents died, maybe this sounds selfish but then when a person dies we do resent it and I suspect this is all a way of coming to terms with the loss.

A Card for the Sugar Bowl Challenge - "A Sketch"

Good Morning Everyone, the sun is out and its quite mild, so it looks almost like Spring is on its way, but dont bank on it. Missy is asking to go for her walk but so far no-one is taking her seriously so shes getting more anxious that daddy is not going to take her out. Hes just got back from Monmouth after having to return a new saucepan he bought me yesterday as it had a split down one of the edges so obviously it couldnt be used, we were told if youd tried to use it, it would have either exploded or split even further down the side.
Anyway todays card has been created for this weeks Sugar Bowl Challenge, and I have used Rosie for my main image, this was the stamp I won in last weeks Sugary Sunday on Facebook, its one of the weekly Challenges on there that I take part in, and Ive stamped and coloured her with my copic pens, then used Nestabilitie Die Labels No.1 to cut it out, then used the larger one for the mount. The sentiment is on the tag which if you look closely is tucked behind the image.
The base card is  6"x 6" white card with a first mount of pink card, the papers I have used are by Nitwits "One Birdie Lane" digi set I used is so pretty I thought it went well with my image. The card has been made up to the sketch that was to be used, and for the final flourish I have used my brand new Epiphany Button maker (brilliant for making homemade buttons), its like a punch with a facility to turn it into button or embellishments, and I created two buttons with some of the first paper and stuck them down the side on the right hand side.
This card is to be entered in the following Challenges:-
http://www.sugarbowlblog.blogspot.com/
http://divasbydesignchallenge.blogspot.com/
http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/
http://heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com/
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/
http://craftspotbykimberly.blogspot.com/
http://www.pollycraftchallengeblog.blogspot.com/
http://simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.com/
http://www.stampsruschallenges.blogspot.com/
http://theresmagicintheair.blogspot.com/
http://inkyimpressionschallenges.blogspot.com/

The Paper Shelters 51st Challenge - "Winter Blues"

Oh my this challenge has certainly come at the right time, I was a bit concerned that by now the weather might have improved but having experienced such coldness over the last few days I expect you will also agree its a case of a touch of the "Winter Blues" for sure. This week I have five new DT members joining our "A" Team for the first time, Im sure you will also want to go and visit Lorraine, Marcea, Ellen, Kathleen and Julie and see for yourself what stunning work these girls do and I also want to welcome them to the team.
And as usual our very generous sponsers are Veronica and Pedro of The Paper Shelter and they are offering $20. as a prize.

And as usual if you use one of their products on your card you will receive the whole of this amount but even if you dont you will still receive 3 digi images of your own choice.And here is my card for this weeks Challenge.

And for my card I have used this gorgeous image "Ice Skating Friends" and you will find it here, Ive printed it onto white card then used my copic and tria pens to colour it, afterwards I used the Nestabilitie Die Labels No.1 to cut it out and then used a larger one for the mount. The sentiment is one from my stash and Ive cut it out with a smalled die from the same labels die set.
The main card is a 6"x 6" white card with a first mount of blue card, and the papers I have used is the "Sweet Gardener" digi paper set and you will find it here, on top of this I have used three snow corners from the Memory Box die, and in the centre I have mounted my image with the sentiment at the bottom on the right.
I then punched out several snowflakes and scattered them all over the front, and before attaching the mount to the base card I have created a larger mount for the outside with one of my Martha Stewart border and corner punches, its the sunrise one, then layered it up to finish it of.
Now that youve seen my card I do so hope you will go across and visit The Paper Shelter Challenge Blogspot to see what the rest of my very talented "A" Team have created for your inspiration.
This card is to be entered in the following Challenges:-
http://blog.icopic.com/
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/
http://simonsaysstampandshow.blogspot.com/
http://www.stampsruschallenges.blogspot.com/

Cards for Men - Challenge 4 - "Valentines Day/Love"

Good Morning Everyone, I do hope that you are not experiencing to much snow and cold, I know maybe quite a few of you might be, anyway over at the Cards for Men we are having some "Love" as its almost Valentines Day and we want to see your cards for the men in your life, and this time we are being sponsered by Heather of "Freshly Brewed Designs"

and as she is having a blog hop over on her own blog I have offered to show you a link to her Challenge Blog,

I do hope you will go across and support her by clicking on the badge above, and this is what she says about herself and her company.

Hi. I am Heather Dennis. I am a homeschooling mother of 2 wonderful children, the wife of 12 years to the love of my life, a Christian and the owner of Fresh Brewed Designs. I have loved to draw and create ever since I was a child. My daughter has inherited my love of art and recently inspired me to start creating again.
All the images in my shop are hand drawn. I offer a wide range of images from coffee, cute and inspirational. I also love to create custom drawn images, so if you are looking for anything in particular, please feel free to drop me an email.

And she has offered 3 digi's as a prize for this "Valentines Day/Love" Challenge.

We were very lucky to have been given several images to play with and I chose this one for my card.

Isnt she gorgeous and shes called "Valentine Sweetheart" Ive printed her onto white card then used my copics to colour her, afterwards I used a deckle edged oval die to cut her out and used a larger one for the mount.

The base card is a 6"x 6" white card with a first mount of red card and the first paper from the Bo Bunnys "Crush" Collection a pretty white background with red hearts on, for my strip down the middle is a piece of red card which has been run through the cuttlebug with a heart embossing folder and a heart punch down both sides, then around the middle I have used a wide satin red ribbon and attached it to the back of the first mount.

The mounted image was then positioned in the middle with the sentiment which is a Whimsey stamp at the bottom on the right hand side. To finish of I have stuck four heart gems down the sides on the two top corners.

Now that youve seen my card I do hope that you will go and visit the Cards for Men Challenge Blogspot and see what the rest of the very talented team have created for your inspiration.

This card is to be entered in the following Challenges:-

http://addicted-to-stamps-challenge.blogspot.com/

http://cateredcrop.com/

http://craftingwhenwecanchallenges.blogspot.com/

http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.com/

http://www.gingerloftchallenge.blogspot.com/

http://kcclayoutchallenges.blogspot.com/

http://onestitchatatimechallenge.blogspot.com/

http://panpasteluk.blogspot.com/

http://sp.thescrapmaster.com/

http://thatcraftplaceblog.blogspot.com/

http://thesquirrelandthefox.blogspot.com/

A Card for Mo's Challenge "Bingo"

Good Morning Everyone, wow what a cold night, it was 8 degrees below zero here in Gloucestershire, though the sun is out now its still cold outside, and everywhere is icy so you have to watch where you put your foot. We had to take Missy to the vets this morning as weve been having problems getting her to eat, shes not the easiest of dogs at the best of times but for the last few days shes really not wanted to eat her meat only her treats. Anyway he gave her a good going over and because shes only just coming out of her first season he thinks shes experiencing a phantom pregnancy, luckily its only a mild one but he says as weve already booked her in to be spayed in April he would have suggested to have her done as she was most likely to experience these each time she has a season and it will only get worse, so thats a relief at least we now know weve done the right thing. Even that visit cost us £21. just for the advice and no treatment, so lets hope she soon comes out of it.
Todays card has is for this weeks challenge over on Mo's and this one is a combination bingo and Ive chosen, diecuts & punches, lace and gems, and Ive even popped a diecut flower on there to. This little mite is "Adele" and Ive coloured her with my copic pens then used Nestabilitie Die No.18 to cut her out then drew around the die to create the mount.
The base card is a 6"x 6" white card with a first mount of green pearlescent card with one paper from the Kay Millers "Wishful Thinking" digi paper set, a very pretty green and yellow pattern background, then Ive used the new Spring Border Die from Memory Box, and around the middle I have wrapped a piece of lace with a ribbon on top.
The mounted image was then positioned in the middle, with the sentiment below. To finish of Ive used two more of the papers from the same set of and one of the blossom dies from Nestabilities and wound it up and stuck it at the top on the left with three punched out leaves.
This card is to be entered in the following Challenges:-
http://funwithshapesandmore.blogspot.com/
http://thepoodlesparlour.blogspot.com/
http://mosdigitalchallenge.blogspot.com/
http://craftypurplefrogchallenges.blogspot.com/
http://craftuscrazy.blogspot.com/
http://www.sjpapercrafts.blogspot.com/

A Card for Sugary Sundays on Facebook

Good Morning Everyone, well I dont know if youve discovered that Sugar Nellie have a Weekly Challenge on Facebook, and its a Colour Challenge again this week, and these are the ones they want us to use on our cards.

And Ive used one of the new stamps from Funky Kits its one of the Puppy Love set, and Ive stamped her onto white card and used my copic pens to colour her, then cut her out with my rotatrim and created a mount for her out of dark beige card. The basic card is a 6"x 6" white card with again a first mount of the same beige card and then used two papers from the Maja "Life in the Country" paper pack, the first one is a beige pattern on a white background and the second is a white spot on a blue background.
I then wrapped a piece of pink ribbon around the card and attached it to the back of the first mount. I then positioned my mounted image to the right hand side, and my sentiment which is also a Sugar Nellie stamp at the bottom on the left.
I then used one of the Die-namics loopy flower die with a piece of felt and stuck it to the card with some punched out leaves from Cheery Lynn and some silicone glue.
This card is to be entered in the following Challenges:-
http://www.craftysentiments.blogspot.com/
http://deepoceanchallengeblog.blogspot.com/
http://everybody-art-challenge.blogspot.com/
http://ladybugscraftsinkchallengeblog.blogspot.com/
http://mytimetocraftchallenge.blogspot.com/
http://ribboncarouselchallenge.blogspot.com/
http://papertakeweekly.blogspot.com/

A Card for LOV Challenge - "Spring Colours"

Good Morning Everyone, I hope that the snow isnt to bad where you are, we had a layer of it to and then yesterday it had turned to ice which was ten times more dangerous, and as we had planned to go and do our monthly shop it was very scarey getting of our estate, luckily someone had been out and scattered some salt and grit so it wasnt as bad as I expected, though poor hubby had to remove all the ice from the car windows and that took time.
Anyway todays card which has been made for a few days is for this weeks "Spring Colour" Challenge from LOV and Ive used this sweet fairy for my card, Ive coloured her with my copics then cut her out with a oval die, the mount is the new Cheery Lynn Swedish Spring Oval die, (I have noticed it must have moved after I stuck it to the card with some silicone glue.
The base card is 6"x 6" white card with a first mount of pink card, the two papers I have used are from the First Edition "Spring Drop" paper pad, Ive also wrapped a wide pink ribbon around the card and attached it to the back of the first mount. I then positioned my mounted image to the right of the card and created a flower spray of several sized roses in the top left hand corner and stuck them to the card with some silicone glue and some punched out rose leaf.
This Card is to be entered in the following Challenges:-
http://liliofthevalleythursdaychallenge.blogspot.com/
http://wildorchidchallenge.blogspot.com/
http://addicted-to-stamps-challenge.blogspot.com/
http://www.comeandgetitchallenges.blogspot.com/
http://craftingwhenwecanchallenges.blogspot.com/
http://panpasteluk.blogspot.com/
http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com/
http://www.thehybridchick.com/
http://thecraftypad.blogspot.com/
http://paper-craftingjourney.blogspot.com/